Method for determining the biological age of a companion animal

ABSTRACT

A method for determining the biological age of the companion animal. A companion animal ambulates from a first region to a second region of a pressure detection unit and the footfall data is utilized in the determination of the biological age of the companion animal.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to determining the biological age of acompanion animal. The biological age is determined through observationof the mobility of the companion animal as the companion animalambulates across a pressure detection unit. This invention further isrelated to providing a recommendation for a management program forcompanion animal health care, well-being and nutrition.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

An increasing number of people are acquiring and caring for a greatvariety of companion animals. Many companion animal breeders, owners,and caregivers would like their companion animals to live longer andhealthier lives. Breeders, owners, and caregivers of these companionanimals have a desire to understand the physical and biologicalattributes, genetic makeup, heritable disease, disorder background, andlongevity of their companion animals. While companion animals and otheranimals generally live longer and have a better quality of life todaydue to improved nutrition and medical care, substantial investments intime, effort and financial resources are made to characterize the healthstate of those companion animals. There is also a desire to conductperiodic health assessments of those companion animals.

It would be of value to provide a method for assessing the health of acompanion animal. There are many indicators of health and wellness incompanion animals, including markers such as biomarkers, behavioralindicators, biometrics, etc. An example of an indicator of the healthand wellness of a companion animal is the mobility of the companionanimal. A companion animal may have an expected mobility based on thecompanion animal's chronological age but the actual mobility of thecompanion animal may vary from the expected mobility as the companionanimal ages. This variance may be a result of any number of factors,such as, but not limited to, activity level, weight management, disease,arthritic conditions, etc. The observation of the actual mobility of thecompanion animal can be utilized in determining the biological age ofthe companion animal. A disparity between the chronological age andbiological age can be an indicator of the health and wellness of thecompanion animal. It would be helpful to develop an individualizedmanagement program recommendation for the companion animal. Such amanagement program can maintain, enhance or improve the companionanimal's biological age through dietary modification, supplementadministration, weight loss/management plans, physical activityrecommendations, veterinary intervention and combinations thereof. Themaintenance, enhancement and/or improvement of the biological age of thecompanion animal may be assessed and/or documented through caregiverperception, veterinary assessment, and/or subsequent determinations ofbiological age. It would be beneficial to provide a method for assessingthe impact of the management program on the biological age of thecompanion animal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A method of determining a companion animal's biological age, said methodcomprising the steps of providing at least one pressure detection unithaving one or more pressure sensors; ambulating the companion animalfrom a first region of the pressure detection unit to a second region ofthe pressure detection unit to collect footfall data; analyzing thefootfall data to convert the footfall data into movement data which isutilized in a biological age equation from a representative class ofanimals to determine a biological age for the companion animal.

A method for evaluating a companion animal's biological age with respectto a biological age of a representative class of animals, the methodcomprising the steps of providing at least one pressure detection unitcomprising one or more pressure sensors; ambulating the companion animalfrom a first region of the pressure detection unit to a second region ofthe pressure detection unit to collect footfall data; analyzing thefootfall data to convert the footfall data into movement data which isutilized in a biological age equation from a representative class ofanimals to determine a biological age of the companion animal; andcomparing the biological age of the companion animal to an averagebiological age of said representative class of animals.

A database comprising a biological age of at least one companion animal,said biological age determined by a method comprising the steps ofproviding at least one pressure detection unit comprising one or morepressure sensors; ambulating the companion animal from a first region ofthe pressure detection unit to a second region of the pressure detectionunit to collect footfall data; analyzing the footfall data to convertthe footfall data into movement data which is utilized in a biologicalage equation from a representative class of animals to determine abiological age of the companion animal; and storing the biological agein the database.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of the points of measurement during thecollection of conformation data of a companion animal such as a dog.

FIG. 2 is a top view of a portion of a first flexible material layerhaving traces of conductive material on an inner side to form theprimary conductive traces.

FIG. 3 is a cross section view along line 3-3 of the first flexiblematerial layer of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a portion of the first flexible material layerof FIG. 2 including a layer of pressure responsive resistive materialwhich covers the primary conductive traces.

FIG. 5 is a top view of a portion of the first flexible material layerof FIG. 2 including strips of an insulating acrylic material at an anglecrossing each primary resistive trace.

FIG. 6 is a top view of a portion of the first flexible material layerof FIG. 2 including secondary conductive traces on top of insulatingacrylic material.

FIG. 7 is a top view of a portion of the first flexible material layerof FIG. 2 comprising secondary conductive traces which are coveredlengthwise with a layer of pressure responsive resistive material toform secondary resistive traces.

FIG. 8 is a top view of a second piece of flexible material with bridgeconductive material traces or strips which are on the inner side of thesecond flexible material.

FIG. 9 is a top view of the bridge conductive material trace coveredwith a layer of pressure responsive resistive material to form bridgecontact regions.

FIG. 10 is a top view of a rocker member across each bridge contactregion after each bridge conductive material trace has been covered withpressure responsive resistive material to form the bridge contactregion.

FIG. 11 a top view of a matrix comprising a plurality of conductivecells formed when the first flexible material and the second flexiblematerial are overlaid upon each other.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the matrix of FIG. 11 viewed alongline 12-12.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the matrix of FIG. 11 viewed alongline 13-13.

FIG. 14 is a top view of an alternative embodiment of a pressuredetection unit.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the matrix of FIG. 14 viewed alongline 15-15.

FIG. 16 is a top view of the matrix of FIG. 11 having a portion of thematrix cut away.

FIG. 17 is a top view of a circuit board containing the electronicshaving attached conductive fingers.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of the matrix of FIG. 17 viewed alongline 18-18.

FIG. 19 is a top view of a pressure detection unit comprised of multiplematrices.

FIG. 20 is an illustration of a diagrammatic view of a companionanimal's footprints upon the pressure detection unit of FIG. 19 as thefootprints would appear on a video monitor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As used herein, the term “biological age” refers to the computed age ofa companion animal as determined through the observation, as definedherein, of the mobility of the companion animal. Factors that may affectbiological age include, but are not limited to, changes in the physicalstructure of the body, changes in metabolic processes, changes in motorskill performance, changes in overall health status and combinationsthereof. As discussed herein, biological age is expressed on a timescale of years.

As used herein, the term “chronological age” refers to the age of thecompanion animal measured on a time scale beginning from the companionanimal's birth. As discussed herein, chronological age is expressed on atime scale of years (e.g., 6 months is converted to 0.5 years).

As used herein, the term “class of animals” refers to a generalized ormore specific categorization of animals. Categorizations include, butare not limited to, breed, characteristics for which breeds wereoriginally developed (e.g, sporting, hound, working, terrier, toy,non-sporting, herding, or other), body size, conformationcharacteristics, chronological age, naturally occurring gait pattern,physical ailment, and combinations thereof. The class of animals mayinclude purebred animals, cross-bred animals, and combinations thereof.

As used herein, the term “companion animal” refers to domestic animalssuch as dogs and cats. The companion animal may be a purebred animal orcross-bred animal.

As used herein, the term “conformation data” refers to data measuredfrom the body of the companion animal.

As used herein, the term “footfall data” refers to the footfall pressureand the temporal and spatial parameters of each footfall of an animal asthe animal ambulates from a first region of a pressure detection unit toa second region of the pressure detection unit. Footfall data isanalyzed to convert the footfall data to movement data.

As used herein, the term “footfall pressure” refers to the pressureexerted by each footfall of an animal on a pressure detection unit asthe animal ambulates from a first region of the pressure detection unitto a second region of the pressure detection unit.

As used herein, the term “medical history” refers to historical healthdata, nutritional history, surgeries, medicines, disease conditions,physical ailments, and combinations thereof of an animal.

As used herein, the term “movement data” refers to the calculatedresults from the analysis and conversion of footfall data. Movement dataincludes, but is not limited to, number of pressure sensors activated ina given paw placement, pressure peak (maximum amount of pressure in theseries of steps of all four feet), pressure mean (average pressure ofthe four limbs), pressure time (the time, in seconds, of contact minusthe stance time), step length (the distance, in centimeters, between thepaw contact of one side of the body and the paw contact of the contralateral side), stride length (distance, in centimeters, from thefarthest hind point of paw to same point of next step), step time (time,in seconds, to complete the distance between the paw contact of one sideof the body and the paw contact of the contra lateral side), stride time(time, in seconds, elapsed between the paw going down and the pawinggoing up), swing time (time, in seconds, elapsed between the paw goingup and the paw going down), stance time (the time, in seconds, the pawis on the ground in seconds), distance (total distance covered measuredin centimeters), ambulation time (total time, in seconds, the companionanimal is on the pressure detection unit from the first step to the lastpressure contact), velocity (distance covered in the ambulation dividedby time, in centimeters per second), step count (number of steps taken),cadence (pattern of steps taken), step time of all four paws (the time,in seconds, to complete the distance between the paw contact of one sideof the body and the paw contact of the contra lateral side (either frontor hind)), step length measured individually on each leg (distance, incentimeters, between the contact of the front or hind leg and thecontact of its contra lateral leg measured in centimeters), cycle timemeasured individually for each leg (the time, in seconds, elapsed forswing and stance phase combined), stride length measured individuallyfor each leg (length of step, in centimeters, from toe off to contactfor an individual leg), stride velocity measured individually on eachleg (stride length covered in a cycle time, centimeters per second),swing percentage of cycle measured individually for each leg (percentageof time an individual limb is in motion and not in stationary phase),swing time measured individually for each leg (time, in seconds, limb isin air or swinging (from toe off to contact)), stance percentage ofcycle measured individually for each leg (percentage of time limb isstationary in the cycle relative to the swing phase (contact toe off)),stance time, in seconds, measured individually for each leg, number ofsensors measured individually for each leg (number of sensors for anindividual leg), peak pressure measured individually for each leg, meanpressure measured individually for each leg, center of gravity (line ofmovement from the center of gravity of the subject, and combinationsthereof.

As used herein, the term “observed” or “observation” refers to measuringthe mobility of an animal through mechanical analysis done by a pressuredetection unit.

A pressure detection unit is utilized in the observation of the mobilityof a companion animal. The companion animal ambulates from a firstregion of a pressure detection unit to a second region of the pressuredetection unit. As the companion animal ambulates from the first regionto the second region, each footfall of the companion animal exerts apressure onto the pressure detection unit. The pressure detection unitrecords the footfall pressure as well as additional footfall data suchas the temporal and spatial parameters of each footfall. The footfalldata is analyzed and converted into movement data. The movement data ofthe companion animal is inserted into a biological age equationdeveloped form the movement data of a representative class of companionanimals.

In an embodiment, the footfall data from a representative class ofanimals is collected, analyzed and converted into movement data. Arepresentative class of animals may be categorized by type, breed, bodysize, conformation, physical ailment, chronological age, andcombinations thereof. Table 1 represents an example of categorizationsbased on body size and breed. An example of chronological agecategorization is less than 4 years, from 5 to 6 years, from 7 to 9years, and greater than 10 years of age. Non-limiting examples of acomparison between a companion animal and a representative class ofanimals include comparing the companion animal to a representative classof animals which are the same breed as the companion animal, comparingthe companion animal to a representative class of animals which are thesame body size (e.g., large breed, medium breed, small breed), comparingthe companion animal to a representative class of animals which have thesame known or suspected physical ailment and comparing the companionanimal to a representative class of animals which have common movementcharacteristics.

TABLE 1 Size Breed Extra Anatolian Shepherd Dog, Bernese Mountain Dog,Black Russian Terrier, Borzoi, Large Bouvier des Flandres, Bullmastiff,Great Dane, Great Pyrenees, Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, Irish Wolfhound,Kuvasz, Mastiff, Mastiff Scottish Deerhound, Neapolitan Mastiff,Newfoundland, Saint Bernard, Scottish Deerhound Large Afghan Hound,Akita, Alaskan Malamute, American English Coonhound, American Foxhound,Beauceron, Belgian Malinois, Belgian Sheepdog, Belgian Tervuren, Blackand Tan Coonhound, Bloodhound, Bluetick Coonhound, Boxer, Briard, CanaanDog, Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Collie, Curly-Coated Retriever, DobermanPinscher, Dogue de Bordeaux, English Setter, Flat-Coated RetrieverPointer, German Shepherd Dog, German Shorthaired Pointer, GermanWirehaired Pointer, Giant Schnauzer, Golden Retriever, Gordon Setter,Greyhound, Ibizan Hound, Irish Red and White Setter, Irish Setter, IrishWater Spaniel, Komondor, Labrador Retriever, Old English Sheepdog,Otterhound, Pharaoh Hound, Plott, Pointer, Redbone Coonhound, RhodesianRidgeback, Rottweiler, Saluki, Spinone Italiano, Tibetan Mastiff,Treeing Walker Coonhound, Vizsla, Weimaraner, Wirehaired PointingGriffon Medium Airedale Terrier, American Eskimo Dog, AmericanStaffordshire Terrier, American Water Spaniel, Australian Cattle Dog,Australian Shepherd, Bearded Collie, Border Collie, Boykin Spaniel,Brittany, Chinese Shar-Pei, Chow Chow, Clumber Spaniel, Dalmatian,English Foxhound, English Springer Spaniel, Field Spaniel, FinnishSpitz, German Pinscher, Harrier, Irish Terrier, Keeshond, Kerry BlueTerrier, Norwegian Buhund, Norwegian Elkhound, Nova Scotia Duck TollingRetriever, Polish Lowland Sheepdog, Portuguese Water Dog, Puli, PyreneanShepherd, Samoyed, Siberian Husky, Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, StandardPoodle, Standard Schnauzer, Welsh Springer Spaniel, Whippet SmallBasenji, Basset Hound, Beagle, Bedlington Terrier, Border Terrier,Boston Terrier, Bull Terrier, Bulldog, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel,Chinese Crested, Cocker Spaniel, Dachshund, English Cocker Spaniel,French Bulldog, Glen of Imaal Terrier, Italian Greyhound, LakelandTerrier, Löwchen, Miniature Bull Terrier, Miniature Poodle, MiniatureSchnauzer, Parson Russell Terrier, Petit Basset Griffon, Vendéen, Pug,Schipperke, Shetland Sheepdog, Shiba Inu, Smooth Fox Terrier,Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Sussex Spaniel, Swedish Vallhund, TibetanTerrier, Welsh Terrier, Wire Fox Terrier Extra Affenpinscher, AustralianTerrier, Bichon Frise, Brussels Griffon, Cairn Terrier, Small CardiganWelsh Corgi, Chihuahua, Dandie Dinmont Terrier, English Toy Spaniel,Havanese, Japanese Chin, Lhasa Apso, Maltese, Manchester Terrier,Miniature Pinscher, Norfolk Terrier, Norwich Terrier, Papillon,Pekingese, Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Pomeranian, Scottish Terrier, SealyhamTerrier, Shih Tzu, Silky Terrier, Skye Terrier, Tibetan Spaniel, Toy FoxTerrier, Toy Poodle, West Highland White Terrier, Yorkshire Terrier

The representative class of animals may comprise animals with no knownphysical ailments, with known physical ailments and combinationsthereof. In an embodiment, the representative class of animals comprisesanimals without any known physical ailments and provides arepresentative class of animals against which a companion animal withoutany known physical ailments may be compared. In an embodiment, therepresentative class of animals comprises animals without any knownphysical ailments and provides a representative class of animals againstwhich a companion animal with a known or suspected physical ailment maybe compared. The comparison of a companion animal with a known orsuspected physical ailment to a representative class of animals withouta physical ailment can provide for the development of a managementprogram to improve the physical condition of the companion animal. In anembodiment, the representative class of animals may comprise animalswith a known physical ailment, such as, for example, osteo-arthritis,and may form a representative class of animals against which a companionanimal with the same physical ailment, such as, for example,osteo-arthritis, may be compared. The comparison of a companion animalwith a known physical ailment to a representative class of animals withthe same known physical ailment allows for the development of amanagement program to improve the physical condition of the companionanimal.

The footfall data of each animal in the representative class of animalsis collected and analyzed to convert the footfall data into the movementdata described above. The movement data of the class of animals isstored in a database. The analysis of the footfall data includes anymathematical manipulation necessary to convert the footfall data perfoot, per limb, or per motion into the desired movement data. Themovement data of each animal within the representative class of animalsis utilized in the development of biological age equations. In anembodiment, the development of biological age equations utilizesstatistical analysis such as the Principal Component Method which is aknown statistical analysis method. The Principal Component Methodutilizes all pieces of movement data to create a covariance matrix andto determine the eigenvectors. An 80% threshold is used throughout thePrincipal Component Method. The principal components are the linearcombinations of the movement data and the interpretation of theprincipal components relies on the weight (the direction and magnitude)of the movement date. All pieces of movement data are mean-centered andscaled by standard deviation. A stepwise discriminate analysis is usedto select a subset of principal components that are statisticallysignificant in discriminating chronological age groups (p-value <0.05).The selected subset of principal components are used in a regressionmodel (linear regression and age regression) to develop biologicalequations. As different chronological age groups correlate withdifferent subsets of principal components, biological age equations aredeveloped for each subset of principal components. In an embodiment, thefollowing are exemplary chronological age groups: less than four yearsof age, from 5-6 years of age, from 7-9 years of age, and greater than10 years of age. The biological age equations are used in thedetermination of the biological age of a companion animal. In thedetermination of the biological age of a companion animal, the movementdata of the companion animal is inserted into a biological age equationwhich has been categorized into a chronological age group thatcorresponds to the chronological age of the companion animal.

In an embodiment, the footfall data from a companion animal iscollected, analyzed and converted into movement data. To determine thebiological age of the companion animal, the movement data is insertedinto a biological age equation from a representative class of animalsthat has been categorized into a chronological age group thatcorresponds to the chronological age of the companion animal. Thebiological age, as expressed in a time scale of years, can then becompared to the chronological age of the companion animal. Thecomparison of the biological age of the companion animal to thechronological age of the companion animal provides an indication as towhether the biological age of the companion animal is better than, worsethan, or the same as the chronological age of the companion animal. Thecomparison, therefore, is an indication of the health of the companionanimal. In an embodiment, the biological age of the companion animal maybe compared to the average biological age of the representative class ofanimals. The comparison of the biological age of the companion animal tothe average biological age of the representative class of animalsprovides an indication as to whether the biological age of the companionanimal is better than, worse than or the same as the average biologicalage of the representative class of animals. The comparison, therefore,is an indication of the health of the companion animal.

In an embodiment, a database stores the footfall data, movement data,biological ages, biological age equations, and combinations thereof ofthe representative class of animals. In an embodiment, a database storesthe footfall data, movement data, biological age and combinationsthereof of the companion animal being evaluated.

A pressure detection unit may be portable or may be fixed in place. Thepressure detection unit may be located in any environment such as, butnot limited to, a home environment, a veterinary clinic, a laboratorysetting, a research environment, a breeder environment, a kennel, or aretail environment. The companion animal may present with a known orsuspected physical ailment, such as may be the situation in a clinicalsetting, or the companion animal may present with no physical ailment.

A single pressure detection unit or multiple pressure detection unitsmay be utilized in the observation of the mobility of a companionanimal. In an embodiment a pressure detection unit is utilized tocollect the footfall data of a companion animal ambulating on a flatsurface. In an embodiment, a pressure detection unit is placed on a rampto collect the footfall data of a companion animal moving up the inclineof the ramp, down the decline of the ramp, and combinations thereof. Inan embodiment, a pressure detection unit is placed on an elevatedsurface to collect the footfall data of a companion animal that hasjumped onto the elevated surface. In an embodiment, two pressuredetection units can be placed end to end to lengthen the area upon whichthe companion animal ambulates. A pressure detection unit may comprisemultiple sections. The multiple sections may be separate from eachother. In an embodiment, a pressure detection unit comprises multiplesections which are sized and placed on a set of stairs to collect thefootfall data of a companion animal moving up or down the stairs. It isbelieved that placing the pressure detection unit on surfaces such as,but not limited to, inclines, declines, elevated surfaces, and stairs,allows for the observation of the mobility of the companion animalduring a movement normally engaged in by the companion animal and allowsfor an understanding of what movement affects the mobility of thecompanion animal. In an embodiment, in determining the biological age ofa companion animal, the movement data of the companion animal isinserted into the biological age equation developed following movementby a representative class of animals on a surface the same as or similarto the surface upon which the companion animal ambulated and which hasbeen categorized into a chronological age group that corresponds to thechronological age of the companion animal. For example, in such anembodiment, the movement data of a companion animal that has ambulatedup a flight of stairs may be inserted into a biological age equationdeveloped following movement of a representative class of animals up aflight of stairs and which has been categorized into a chronological agegroup that corresponds to the chronological age of the companion animal.

In an embodiment, an image collector is utilized in association with apressure detection unit to collect images of the companion animalambulating from a first region of the pressure detection unit to asecond region of the pressure detection unit. The image collector maycollect images of the companion animal before, during, and/or after thecompanion animal ambulates from the first region to the second region ofthe pressure detection unit. The collected images may be utilized toverify the footfalls of the companion animal. The image collector may beany device that can collect images of the companion animal such as, butnot limited to, camera, video camera, video recorder, digital mediadevice and combinations thereof. The image collector may be hand-held,mounted (i.e, on a stand or wall), and combinations thereof.

In an embodiment, the pressure detection unit is utilized in combinationwith kinematics sensors that have been placed on the body of thecompanion animal during the collection of footfall data of the companionanimal. The kinematics sensors may be placed on locations of the body ofthe companion animal including, for example, the front and hind legs ofthe companion animal. The data collected from the kinematics sensors mayillustrate the motion of the extremities of the companion animal as thecompanion animal ambulates from a first region to a second region of thepressure detection unit. The kinematics data may be combined with thefootfall data for an overall assessment of the whole body motion of thecompanion animal.

In an embodiment, the pressure detection unit is associated with a loadcell to calculate the weight of the companion animal. In an embodiment,a portion of the pressure detection unit comprises the load cell. Forexample, a region of the pressure detection unit upon which thecompanion animal will step may comprise a load cell. In an embodiment,the load cell is separate from the pressure detection unit. In such anembodiment, the companion animal may be weighed prior to or afterambulating from a first region to a second region of the pressuredetection unit.

The determination of the biological age of a companion animal includesthe observation of the mobility of the companion animal as the companionanimal ambulates from a first region of a pressure detection unit to asecond region of the pressure detection unit. In an embodiment, thecompanion animal ambulates from a first region to a second region of apressure detection unit at a pace that is normal for the companionanimal. In an embodiment, the companion animal is guided from a firstregion to a second region of the pressure detection unit at a particularpace. The pace of the companion animal may be a pace exemplified by awalk, trot, run, and combinations thereof. The pace of the movement maybe constant, accelerate, decelerate, and combinations thereof. In anembodiment it may be desirable for the companion animal to ambulate froma first region to a second region of the pressure detection unit at aparticular pace to gather desired footfall data. For example, acompanion animal may need to ambulate at a pace of a run in order for ahealth symptom to appear that would not normally appear if the companionanimal were to ambulate at a slower pace.

In an embodiment, the companion animal ambulates from a first region ofthe pressure detection unit to a second region of the pressure detectionunit without assistance and/or guidance. It is believed that the lack ofassistance and/or guidance will allow for natural movement of thecompanion animal and therefore will allow for the collection of footfalldata that is consistent with the mobility of the companion animal. In anembodiment, the companion animal ambulates from a first region of apressure detection unit to a second region of the pressure detectionunit with assistance and/or guidance. Such assistance or guidance mayinclude, but is not limited to, a handler, treat, leash, guide wall,tunnel, voice commands, hand signals, and combinations thereof. Theassistance or guidance may help the companion animal remain on thepressure detection unit for the duration of the movement across thepressure detection unit.

As the companion animal ambulates from a first region of the pressuredetection unit to a second region of the pressure detection unit, thefootfall pressure of the companion animal is detected by pressure sensormatrices within the pressure detection unit, described below. Thecompanion animal ambulates from a first region of the pressure detectionunit to a second region of the pressure detection unit in a forward lineof progression that is normal for the companion animal which mayinclude, but is not limited to, a straight line, a diagonal line,weaving, at an angle, and combinations thereof. In an embodiment, thefootfalls of the companion animal occur in the normal pattern of thecompanion animal. In an embodiment in which a companion animal has aknown or suspected physical ailment, the footfalls occur in the patternin which the companion animal accommodates the known or suspectedphysical ailment.

In the collection of footfall data of the companion animal, thecompanion animal completes at least one gait cycle during ambulationfrom a first region to a second region of the pressure detection unit. Agait cycle includes the stance and swing phase of each limb of thecompanion animal. In an embodiment, the companion animal completes onegait cycle. In an embodiment, the companion animal completes at leasttwo gait cycles. In an embodiment, the companion animal completes atleast 1, 2, 3 or 4 gait cycles. In an embodiment, the companion animalcompletes from 1, 2, 3, or 4 gait cycles to 7, 8, 9 or 10 gait cycles.

The companion animal ambulates from a first region of the pressuredetection unit to a second region of the pressure detection unit in atleast one repetition. In an embodiment in which the companion animalambulates across the pressure detection unit, but at least one footfallis unaccounted for, it may be necessary for additional repetitions tooccur. In an embodiment in which the companion animal strays from thepressure detection unit during the collection of footfall data, it maybe necessary for additional repetitions to occur. In an embodiment, itmay be desirable for the companion animal to complete multiplerepetitions. In such an embodiment, the multiple repetitions mayillustrate consistency in the ambulation of the companion animal from afirst region to a second region of the pressure detection unit. In anembodiment in which the companion animal completes multiple repetitions,the movement data from each of the repetitions may be averaged togetherto obtain a single set of movement data for use in the determination ofthe biological age of the companion animal. The companion animal maycomplete at least 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 repetitions. The companion animal maycomplete from 1, 2, or 3 to 6, 8, or 10 repetitions.

The footfall data of the companion animal is analyzed to convert thefootfall data to the movement data listed above. The analysis of thefootfall data includes any mathematical manipulation necessary toconvert the footfall data per foot, per limb, or per motion into thedesired piece of movement data. The movement data of the companionanimal is inserted into a biological age equation developed from ananalysis of the footfall data and movement data of a representativeclass of animals. The representative class of animals may have multiplebiological equations which have been categorized according tochronological age. The biological equation utilized in the determinationof the biological age of the companion animal is selected using thechronological age of the companion animal. Thus, the chronological ageof the companion animal is utilized to determine which biological ageequation to utilize. The calculated answer is the biological age of thecompanion animal.

In an embodiment, the biological age of the companion animal can becompared to the chronological age of that companion animal. A comparisonbetween the biological age and the chronological age may be anindication that the biological age of the companion animal is betterthan, worse than, or the same as the chronological age. A biological agethat is worse than the chronological age may be an indication of aproblem in the health and/or well-being of the companion animal. Thecomparison between the biological age and the chronological age mayresult in a management program recommendation to maintain, enhance, orimprove the biological age of the companion animal. A management programmaintains the biological age of a companion animal when a subsequentdetermination of the biological age of the companion animal isconsistent with the prior determination of the biological age. Amanagement program enhances the biological age of a companion animalwhen a subsequent determination of the biological age of the companionanimal indicates that a biological age which was already the same as orbetter than the chronological age is now better than the priordetermination of the biological age. A management program improves thebiological age of a companion animal when a subsequent determination ofthe biological age of the companion animal indicates that a biologicalage which was worse than the chronological age is now better than theprior determination of the biological age. The management program mayinclude recommendations to maintain, enhance or improve the biologicalage of the companion animal according to the principles of soundveterinary medicine. Examples of recommendations the management programmay include, but are not limited to, are dietary modification,supplement administration, weight loss/management plans, physicalactivity modifications, veterinary intervention, and combinationsthereof. In an embodiment, the biological age of the companion animal isdetermined at a first moment in time. A subsequent determination of thebiological age of the companion animal then occurs at a second latermoment in time. The subsequent determination of the biological age ofthe companion animal is then compared to the biological age at the firstmoment in time. The subsequent determination of the biological age is anindication of an improvement, enhancement, deterioration, or maintenanceof the first moment in time determination of the biological age of thecompanion animal. The comparison between the first moment in timedetermination and the subsequent determination allows for modificationof the management program of the companion animal.

In an embodiment, the biological age of the companion animal is comparedto a database comprising biological age information of a representativeclass of animals. A comparison of the biological age of the companionanimal and the average biological age of the representative class ofanimals may be an indication that the biological age of the companionanimal is better than, worse than, or is on par with the representativeclass of animals. An indication that the biological age of the companionanimal is worse than the average biological age of the representativeclass of animals may be an indication of a problem in the health orwell-being of the companion animal. The comparison of the biological ageof the companion animal and the average biological age of therepresentative class of animals may result in a management programrecommendation to maintain, improve or enhance the biological age of thecompanion animal. The management program may include recommendations tomaintain, enhance or improve the biological age of the companion animalaccording to sound veterinary medicine. The management program mayinclude, but is not limited to, dietary modification, supplementadministration, weight loss/management plans, physical activitymodifications, veterinary intervention, and combinations thereof. In anembodiment, the biological age of the companion animal is determined ata first moment in time. A subsequent determination of the biological ageof the companion animal then occurs at a second later moment in time.The subsequent determination of the biological age of the companionanimal is then compared to the biological age at the first moment intime. The subsequent determination of the biological age is anindication of an improvement, enhancement, deterioration, or maintenanceof the first moment in time determination of the biological age of thecompanion animal. The comparison between the first moment in timedetermination and the subsequent determination allows for modificationof the management program of the companion animal.

In the event that a management program is modified, the biological ageof the companion animal may be determined again at another moment laterin time. Following the later determination of the biological age of thecompanion animal a decision is made as to whether additionalmodifications to the management program are warranted. For example, inan embodiment, the management program includes a dietary modification.After the companion animal has followed the management program for aperiod of time the biological age of the companion animal is determinedagain and the management program is reviewed to decide if the dietshould be modified again. In the event of a diet modification, thebiological age of the companion animal can be determined again at latermoment in time. In an embodiment, the management program includesfeeding a supplement to a companion animal experiencing a physicalailment such as osteoarthritis. The supplement may be recommended aspart of the management program to benefit the joints of the companionanimal. Following the use of the supplement, the biological age of thecompanion animal is determined again. The later determination of thebiological age allows for a decision as to the efficacy of thesupplement in the improvement of the joints of the companion animal.Following the determination, the management program is reviewed formodifications.

A management program, such as discussed above, will take intoconsideration the chronological age of the companion animal, biologicalage of the companion animal as well as conformation data, medicalhistory, and combinations thereof. Conformation data of the companionanimal may be collected before, during, and/or after the companionanimal ambulates across the pressure detection unit. The conformationdata may be collected by utilizing a fabric/cloth measuring tape, agoniometer (such as for measurements of the hip and shoulder jointangles), a U-shaped caliper tool that can fit around the body of thecompanion animal and combinations thereof. FIG. 1 is an illustration ofthe skeletal formation of a companion animal 10 such as a dog.Conformation data includes, but is not limited to, length of the rightand left front legs (measurements include from the proximal point of thescapular spine 12 to the Acromion process of the left/right scapula 14,from the Acromion process of the left/right scapula 14 to the left/righthumeral epicondyle 16, from the left/right lateral humeral epicondyle 16to the left/right ulnar styloid process 18, and from the left/rightulnar syloid process 18 to the distal condyle of left/right fifthmetacarpal bone 20), length of left and right hind legs (measurementsinclude from the crest of the wing of the ileum 22 to the left/rightischiatic tuberosity 24, from the left/right greater trochanter of femur26 to the left/right lateran femoral epicondyle 28, from the left/rightlateral femoral epicondyle 28 to the left/right lateral malleoulus ofthe tibia 30, and from the left/right lateral malleoulus of the tibia 30to the distal condyle of the left/right fifth metatarsal bone 32),distance between the shoulders (measurements include from the Acromionprocess of the left scapula 14 to the Acromion process of the rightscapula), distance between the hips (measurements include from the leftgreater trochanter of femur 26 to the right greater trochanter offemur), shoulder/hip joint angle measurements (measurements include theangle of the left/right scapula (from reference point 12 to referencepoint 14) versus the horizontal plane at the Acromium process of theleft/right scapula 14, and the angle of the left/right ileum (fromreference point 22 to reference point 24) versus the horizontal plane atthe left/right greater trochanter of femur 26), length of the companionanimal (measurements include from the proximal point of the scapularspine 12 to crest of the wing of the ileum 22, the measurements can alsobe divided into from the Acromium process of the left/right scapula 14to the dorsal spinous process of the scapula 34 and the dorsal spinousprocess of the scapula 34 to crest of the wing of the ileum 22), heightof the companion animal (measurements include from the bottom of theleft/right front leg to proximal point of the scapular spine 12), necklength (measurements include from occipital protuberance on the back ofthe skull 36 to the manubrium 38), tail length (measurements includeform the fused dorsal spinous process of sacrum caudal 40 to thecoccygeal vertebra 42), and combinations thereof.

In an embodiment, a database contains information including, but notlimited to, the chronological age, footfall data, movement data,conformation data, medical history, biological age, management programand combinations thereof of a companion animal. In an embodiment, eachtime the companion animal ambulates across a pressure detection unit,the resulting footfall data, movement data, biological agedetermination, and combinations thereof may be stored in the database.In an embodiment, the database is linked to a publicly accessible mediumsuch as the internet. In such an embodiment, the breeder, owner orcaregiver of the companion animal may access the database informationregarding their companion animal.

In an embodiment, a personalized report containing the chronologicalage, footfall data, movement data, conformation data, medical history,biological age, management program and combinations thereof of acompanion animal is provided to the owner, breeder or caregiver of thecompanion animal. The personalized report can be provided to the owner,breeder or caregiver following the ambulation of the companion animalacross the pressure detection unit, following the determination of thebiological age of the companion animal, or at a later moment in timesuch as through the mail or electronic mail, or may be obtainable from apublicly accessible medium and combinations thereof. The personalizedreport can detail the management program and recommendations for thehealth and well-being of the companion animal. In an embodiment, thepersonalized report provides summaries or detailed description of eachrepetition of the companion animal across the pressure detection unitand an overall assessment of the companion animal's health andwell-being.

FIGS. 2-20 are illustrations of the construction of a pressure detectionunit.

FIG. 2 illustrates a portion of a flexible material layer 100 for use inthe collection of footfall data of a companion animal. FIG. 3illustrates a cross section of the flexible material layer 100 of FIG. 2viewed along line 3-3. Flexible material layer 100 has inner and outersides, 102 and 104 respectively. The flexible material layer may befabricated from materials such as Mylar® or Kapton®. Electrodesfabricated from a conductive material, such as silver or copper, areassociated with the inner side 102 of the flexible material layer 100 toform primary conductive traces such as those indicated as 106, 108 and110. Each primary conductive trace 106, 108 and 110 begins with aconnecting primary finger 112, 114, and 116 and splits along the way tocreate multiple primary conductive sensor contact regions as indicatedas regions 106A-C, 108A-C, and 110A-C on the end of primary conductivetraces 106, 108, and 110 opposite connecting primary fingers 112, 114,and 116. It is understood that although the figures illustrate onlythree primary conductive traces 106, 108 and 110, the flexible materiallayer 100 may comprise numerous conductive traces as part of a muchlarger matrix. For simplification in explanation, more details followwith reference to electrode 110 which extends from connecting primaryfinger 116 as illustrated in FIG. 2. It is understood that the detailswith reference to electrode 110 are equally applicable to all otherelectrodes on the matrix.

FIG. 4 illustrates the primary conductive sensor contact regions 110A,110B, 110C (shown in FIG. 2) and a portion of the primary conductivetrace 110 covered with a layer of pressure responsive resistive material118 to form the primary resistive trace 124, and the correspondingprimary resistive sensor contact regions 124A, 124B, and 124C. Each ofthe primary resistive sensor contact regions, 124A, 124B, and 124C,define multiple cells 150 arranged in a matrix over the area of flexiblematerial layer 100. The pressure responsive resistive material may beany material such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,806,471, or othermaterial such as material no. 4430 manufactured by Chomerics andmaterial no. 4423S manufactured by Acheson Colloids.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of traces of insulating material, such asmaterial no. ML25198 manufactured by Acheson Colloids and indicated as126, 128, and 130 which are silk-screened at an angle crossing primaryresistive trace 124 (as well as the other primary resistive traces 120and 122) and forming gaps, such as 126C, 128C, and 130C, between theprimary resistive sensor contact regions 124A, 124B, and 124C of primaryresistive trace 124 and the insulating traces 126, 128 and 130.

FIG. 6 illustrates secondary conductive traces 132, 134, and 136 whichare silk-screened on top of the traces of insulating acrylic materialsuch as 126, 128, and 130. The secondary conductive traces 132, 134 and136 may be fabricated from strips of copper or silver similar to theprimary conductive traces 106, 108 and 110. Each secondary conductivetrace 132, 134, and 136 emanates from a connecting primary finger 138,140, and 142 at one end, and which comprise a plurality of secondaryconductive sensor contact regions 132A-C, 134A-C, and 136A-C on theopposite end. Connecting primary fingers 138, 140 and 142 are alignedopposite connecting primary fingers 112, 114, and 116 from which primaryconductive traces 106, 108 and 110 emanate.

FIG. 7 illustrates secondary conductive trace 132, 134, and 136 coveredlengthwise with a layer of pressure responsive resistive material toform secondary resistive traces 148, 146, and 144. The layer of pressureresponsive resistive material used to form the secondary resistivetraces 144, 146, and 148 may be identical to the pressure responsiveresistive material 118 (shown in FIG. 4) which is used to form primaryresistive traces 120, 122, and 124. As illustrated, the layer ofpressure responsive resistive material used to form the secondaryresistive traces 144, 146, and 148 does not cover the width of eachinsulating acrylic material strip 126, 128 and 130. Also as illustrated,connecting primary fingers 138, 140, and 142 are not covered. Eachsecondary resistive trace 144, 146 and 148 defines a plurality ofsecondary resistive sensor contact regions such as indicated as 144C,146C, and 148C. Secondary resistive sensor contact regions 144C, 146C,and 148C are separated from their corresponding primary resistive sensorcontact regions 124A, 124B, and 124C.

FIG. 8 illustrates a second piece of flexible material 200, such asMylar® or Kapton®, having an inner side 202 with bridge conductivematerial traces 206 of silver or copper which are rectangular in shapeand are silk-screened on inner side 202 of second flexible material 200.Bridge conductive material traces 206 are positioned on inner side 202of second flexible material 200 in such a way that when inner surface202 of second flexible material 200 securably overlays inner surface 102(shown in FIG. 7) of first flexible material 100 (shown in FIG. 7), thebridge conductive material traces 206 will couple the primary resistivesensor contact regions 124A, 124B and 124C (shown in FIG. 7) to thesecondary resistive sensor contact regions 144C, 146C, and 148C, (shownin FIG. 7) respectively.

FIG. 9 illustrates that each bridge conductive material trace 206 (shownin FIG. 8) is covered with a layer of pressure responsive resistivematerial to form bridge contact regions 208. The pressure responsiveresistive material may be the same material used to form the secondaryresistive traces 144, 146, and 148 and the pressure responsive resistivematerial 118 used to form the primary resistive traces 120, 122, and 124may have similar or different pressure/resistance properties.

FIG. 10 illustrates a rocker member 212 which is silk-screened acrosseach bridge contact region 208 after each bridge conductive materialtrace 206 (shown in FIG. 8) has been covered with pressure responsiveresistive material to form the bridge contact region 208. The rockermember 212 is a piece of insulating material having a printable coatingand may be ultra violet curable with flexible properties. The rockermember 212 is more rigid and less resilient than the surroundingmaterial. For example, a rocker member 212 may be made of insulatingmaterial No. ML25198 manufactured by Acheson Colloids.

FIG. 11 illustrates the inner side 102 of first flexible material 100and inner side 202 (shown in FIGS. 12 and 13) of second flexiblematerial 200 (shown in FIGS. 12 and 13) brought together, overlaid uponeach other and secured using an adhesive to define a matrix 300comprising a plurality of conductive cells 150 defining a circuit. FIG.12 illustrates a side view of the matrix 300 of FIG. 11 when viewedalong line 12-12. FIG. 13 illustrates a side view of the matrix 300 ofFIG. 11 when viewed along line 13-13. As illustrated in FIG. 13, wheninner sides 102 and 202 are brought together and secured to one another,rocker members 212 are positioned so as to fit between the gaps such asindicated at 126C, 128C, and 130C. A load exerted on outer surface 104of the first flexible material 100 over primary resistive sensor contactregion 124A results in contact with one end of bridge contact region 208on inner side 202 of second flexible material 200 at the point indicatedby X. When the load is sufficiently large, the resistance of primaryresistive sensor contact region 124A and the resistance of portion X ofbridge contact region 208 becomes sufficiently small such that anelectrical conduction can be established between primary conductivesensor contact region 110A and bridge conductive material trace 206.

Similarly, a load exerted on secondary resistive sensor contact region144C results in contact with bridge contact region 208 on inner side 202of second flexible material 200 at the point indicated by Y. When theload is sufficiently large, the resistance of secondary resistive sensorcontact region 144C and the resistance of portion Y of bridge contactregion 208 becomes sufficiently small such that an electrical conductioncan be established between secondary conductive sensor contact region136C and bridge conductive material trace 206.

However, if one load acts simultaneously over primary and secondarysensor contact regions 110A, 136C, then an electrical conduction can beestablished between primary conductive sensor contact region 111A andsecondary conductive sensor contact region 136C through bridgeconductive material trace 206. The pressure resistive material on thesurfaces of secondary resistive sensor contact region 144C and bridgecontact region 208 exhibits a low resistance between the two surfacesupon contact proportional to the load exerted between the two surfaces.Likewise, the pressure resistive material on surfaces of primaryresistive sensor contact region 124A and bridge contact region 208exhibits a low resistance between the two surfaces upon contactproportional to the force exerted between the two surfaces. As such, theamount of current present in secondary conductive sensor contact region136C is proportional to the exerted load. Bridge contact region 208ensures that all four surfaces, i.e., the upper surfaces of primaryresistive sensor contact region 124A, bridge contact region 208 at pointX, bridge contact region 208 at point Y and secondary resistive sensorcontact region 144C, must be in contact for current to flow from primaryconductive trace 111A conductor to secondary conductive sensor contactregion 136C. Furthermore, rocker member 212 causes the primary andsecondary resistive sensor contact regions 124A and 144C to revert totheir original non-conductive state as soon as the load is removed.

FIG. 14 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the pressure detectionunit. The pressure detection unit comprises first flexible backingmaterial 100. Layers of primary conductive traces 352, 354, and 356 aredisposed over flexible backing material 100 to form driving electrodesfor conducting electric currents. Each primary conductive trace 352,354, and 356 is longitudinally extended to form a driving electrode rowthat terminates with primary fingers 384, 382 and 380, respectively.Over a portion of each conductive trace 352, 354 and 356 a layer ofpressure responsive resistive material is disposed to form primaryresistive traces 358, 360 and 362, respectively.

A second flexible backing material 200 (shown in FIG. 15) is employed toreceive layers of secondary conductive traces 368, 370 and 372 to formsensing electrodes for conducting electric currents. As shown in FIG.14, each secondary conductive trace 368, 370 and 372 is longitudinallyextended to form a sensing electrode column that terminates with asecondary finger such as 378, 376 and 374, respectively. Over a portionof each secondary conductive trace 368, 370 and 372, a layer of pressureresponsive resistive material is disposed to form secondary resistivetraces 344.

A rocker member 212 is disposed over each secondary resistive trace.Rocker member 212 is disposed in the form of a horizontal strip oversecondary resistive traces 344, although that should not be consideredlimiting. For example, rocker member 212 may employ a width such that itonly substantially covers each secondary resistive trace 344. Eachrocker member 212 is made of a material that is more rigid than thepressure responsive resistive materials employed to form thearrangement.

Each primary conductive trace 352, 354 and 356 in combination with acorresponding secondary conductive trace 368, 370 and 372 andintermediate primary resistive traces 358, 360 and 362 and secondaryresistive trace 344 along with rocker element 212, form a primaryresistive sensor contact region such as 124A (shown in FIG. 15). Forexample, a primary resistive sensor contact region may be formed by aprimary and secondary conductive trace separated by an intermediatepressure responsive resistive material and a rocker member that isextended within the gap defined by the primary and secondary conductivetraces and the intermediate pressure responsive resistive material.

The two layers 100 and 200 are securably disposed over each other by anadhesive to form the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 15. Duringoperation, when flexible layers 100 and 200 are not exposed to a load,each primary resistive sensor contact region exhibits a substantiallyhigh resistance or impedance due to the use of pressure responsiveresistive materials that form primary and secondary resistive traces.When a load is exerted on either or both flexible backing layers 100 and200, the resistance of each pressure responsive resistive materialdecreases until such time that a conductive contact is establishedbetween a driving and sensing electrode at the region where the load hasbeen exerted. When the load is removed, rocker element 212 causes thepressure responsive resistive material to quickly revert back to theiroriginal state prior to the exertion of the load.

Rocker member 212 is made of a material that is more rigid than thepressure responsive resistive material and the time that it takes torevert to the original state is shorter than conventional sensors. Whenthe load is removed the rocker member helps the primary resistive tracesto revert back to their original state more rapidly. As the primaryresistive traces revert back to their original state quicker thanconventional sensors, it is possible to employ thicker flexible backingmaterials. The use of such backing materials will allow the user of thepressure detection unit to fold the backing material for easiertransportation, without deformation of the pressure detection unit afterrepeated folding and unfolding.

After inner sides 102 and 202 (shown in FIGS. 12 and 13) of the firstand second flexible materials 100 and 200 (shown in FIGS. 12 and 13),respectively, are brought together and secured to define matrix 300, aportion of the combined flexible material layers is cut away, asindicated at 302, in the region of the matrix 300 between connectingprimary fingers 112, 114, 116, and 138, 140, and 142, as illustrated inFIG. 16. Additionally, mounting holes 304, 306, 308 and 310 are punchedabout the boundary of cutout portion indicated at 302 for receivingscrews 402 (shown in FIG. 18).

FIG. 17 is an illustration of a circuit board 400 containing theelectronics having attached conductive fingers 404, 406, 408, 410, 412,and 414. Circuit board 400 generally includes a power source signal (notshown) for providing a current flow through matrix 300. A plurality ofsensors (not shown) may be positioned on circuit board 400 opposite theelectrical source such that the sensors detect a signal provided whenthe circuits on matrix 300 have been closed as a result of a forceexerted on outer side 104 of first flexible material 100 (shown in FIGS.12 and 13). Circuit board 400 is positioned such that connecting fingers404, 406, 408 on one side of circuit board 400 are aligned withconnecting primary fingers 112, 114, and 116 on matrix 300, andconnecting fingers 410, 412, and 414 on the opposite side of circuitboard 400 are aligned with connecting primary fingers 138, 140, and 142on matrix 300. Circuit board 400 is further provided with mounting holes420, 422, 424, and 426 which correspond with mounting holes 304, 306,308, and 310 (shown in FIG. 16) in matrix 300 (shown in FIG. 16) forreceiving screws therein. A gasket 416 (shown in FIG. 18) is then placedupon the periphery of the upper surface of circuit board 400 and a metalbar 418 is then disposed upon gasket 416 to receive screws 402 tofacilitate securement of circuit board 400 with matrix 300.

The attachment of circuit board 400 and its electronics to matrix 300comprises pressure detection unit 500 (shown in FIG. 19) having topsurface 502 and a bottom surface 504 for recording the footfall data ofa companion animal. Pressure detection unit 500 is comprised of numerousmatrices 300A, 300B, and 300C comprised of numerous cells 150 (shown inFIG. 19). Pressure detection unit 500 is provided with a self adhesiveopen cell rubber material cover 508 (shown in FIG. 18) applied on bottomsurface 504. The open cell rubber material 508 allows rocker member 212to be depressed into the rubber so as to make contact with bottomsurface 504 so that a current is generated. Open cell rubber materialcover 508 also aids in protecting pressure detection unit 500 when it isrolled for storage or transport. Vinyl flexible material 506 (shown inFIG. 18) applied on top surface 502 also protects pressure detectionunit 500 and permits easy cleaning and disinfection of pressuredetection unit 500 after use. A cover 510 is placed over the electronicsof circuit board 400 of each matrix 300.

As shown in FIG. 19, a cable 512 connects the electronics of the matrix300A to the electronics of the matrix 300B. A second cable 514 connectsthe electronics of matrix 300B to the matrix 300C and so on. It isunderstood that a single cable may be used to connect the matricesrather than a single cable connected between consecutive matrices. Athird cable 516 connects the electronics of matrix 300C to a computer ormicroprocessor 600 having a video monitor 602 and which is loaded with asoftware program utilized for reading, recording, and analyzing the gaitof a companion animal.

In use, pressure detection unit 500 is laid upon a surface and thecomputer 600 is activated. Once it is ascertained that computer 600 isrunning properly and that first, second and third cables 512, 514, and516 are tightly connected, a companion animal ambulates across pressuredetection unit 500. The placement of the companion animal's feet 518A,518B, 518C and 518D exert pressure upon the matrices 300A, 300B, 300C,such that circuits are closed wherein a current is caused to flow from aprimary conductive trace, such as 110 in FIG. 11, across the resistivematerials of the primary resistive sensor contacts, e.g. 124A, on firstflexible material layer 100 and being received at a primary conductivesensor contact such as 136C. The flow of current in matrices 300A, 300Band 300C is converted to an electronic signal and communicated topersonal computer 600 via first, second and third cables, 512, 514, and516. Software loaded within computer 600 stores and displays thecompanion animal's footfall positions 518A, 518B, 518C, and 518D. FIG.20 illustrates a representation of the footfalls of the companion animal518A, 518B, 518C, and 518D ambulating upon pressure detection unit 500as they might appear on video monitor 602 (shown in FIG. 19). Thesoftware loaded in computer 600 is then capable of reading, recording,and analyzing, according to one or more predetermined parameters, thefootfalls of the companion animal. Additional details regarding thepressure detection unit may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,952,585 issuedto Trantzas et al. on Sep. 14, 1999. An example of a pressure detectionunit is a pressure detection unit and associated software as obtainedfrom CIR Systems, Inc. (Havertown, Pa., Item # GRP-14Q).

The pressure detection unit 500 illustrated in FIGS. 19 and 20 isillustrated in the shape of a rectangular walkway. The pressuredetection unit may comprise a shape selected from the group including,but not limited to, rectangle, square, circle, oval, trapezoid, andtriangle. The pressure detection unit may comprise a size appropriatefor the location and environment in which it will be placed and may besized appropriately for the size of the companion animal that willambulate upon the pressure detection unit. For example, collection ofthe footfall data of a cat may utilize a pressure detection unit that issmaller than the size of a pressure detection unit utilized in thecollection of footfall data of a large dog.

EXAMPLE 1 Method for Collecting Footfall Data of a Representative Classof Animals

Two pressure detection units and associated software (the pressuredetection units and associated software are as purchased from CIRSystems, Inc. (Havertown, Pa., Item # GRP-14Q)) are utilized to collectthe footfall data of 120 Labrador Retrievers with no known physicalailments. The pressure detection units are in the shape of a rectangularwalkway and are arranged end to end. The pressure detection units areassociated with a computer via USB cables. In such an arrangement, eachpressure detection unit operates independent of the other pressuredetection unit.

With the assistance of an animal handler, each of the 120 LabradorRetrievers is guided at the pace of a trot for the completion of twogait cycles from a first region to a second region of the first pressuredetection unit and immediately from a first region to a second region ofthe second pressure detection unit as the two units are placed end toend. The Labrador Retrievers range in age from 1.5 to 11 years of ageand are distributed as follows: under 4 years of age: 24 animals, 4-8years of age: 50 animals, over 8 years of age: 46 animals. The LabradorRetrievers are of typical body size and present with no known physicalailments. As each Labrador Retriever ambulates across the pressuredetection units, the footfall placement of the Labrador Retriever isobserved on the video monitor of the associated computer. Observing thefootfalls on the video monitor provides a visual evaluation of whetherthe companion animal stays on the pressure detection units, whether allfootfalls are captured by the pressure detection units, and whether thecompanion animal completes the desired number of gait cycles over thepressure detection units. In the event that the companion animal straysfrom the pressure detection units, not all footfalls are captured or thegait cycles are not completed, the movement is repeated. The footfalldata of each Labrador Retriever is collected and stored on theassociated computer.

EXAMPLE 2 Method of Analyzing the Footfall Data of Example 1 to Convertthe Footfall Data to Movement Data and Develop Biological Age Equations

The footfall data of Example 1 is analyzed to convert the footfall datainto movement data of each Labrador Retriever. The analysis of thefootfall data includes the mathematical manipulation necessary toconvert the footfall data per foot, per limb or per motion into thedesired piece of movement data—number of pressure sensors activated in agiven paw placement, pressure peak (maximum amount of pressure in theseries of steps of all four feet), pressure mean (average pressure ofthe four limbs), pressure time (the time, in seconds, of contact minusthe stance time), step length (the distance, in centimeters, between thepaw contact of one side of the body and the paw contact of the contralateral side), stride length (distance, in centimeters, from thefarthest hind point of paw to same point of next step), step time (time,in seconds, to complete the distance between the paw contact of one sideof the body and the paw contact of the contra lateral side), stride time(time, in seconds, elapsed between the paw going down and the pawinggoing up), swing time (time, in seconds, elapsed between the paw goingup and the paw going down), stance time (the time, in seconds, the pawis on the ground in seconds), distance (total distance covered measuredin centimeters), ambulation time (total time, in seconds, the companionanimal is on the pressure detection unit from the first step to the lastpressure contact), velocity (distance covered in the ambulation dividedby time, in centimeters per second), step count (number of steps taken),cadence (pattern of steps taken), step time of all four paws (the time,in seconds, to complete the distance between the paw contact of one sideof the body and the paw contact of the contra lateral side (either frontor hind)), step length measured individually on each leg (distance, incentimeters, between the contact of the front or hind leg and thecontact of its contra lateral leg measured in centimeters), cycle timemeasured individually for each leg (the time, in seconds, elapsed forswing and stance phase combined), stride length measured individuallyfor each leg (length of step, in centimeters, from toe off to contactfor an individual leg), stride velocity measured individually on eachleg (stride length covered in a cycle time, centimeters per second),swing percentage of cycle measured individually for each leg (percentageof time an individual limb is in motion and not in stationary phase),swing time measured individually for each leg (time, in seconds, limb isin air or swinging (from toe off to contact)), stance percentage ofcycle measured individually for each leg (percentage of time limb isstationary in the cycle relative to the swing phase (contact toe off)),stance time, in seconds, measured individually for each leg, number ofsensors measured individually for each leg (number of sensors for anindividual leg), peak pressure measured individually for each leg, meanpressure measured individually for each leg, center of gravity (line ofmovement from the center of gravity of the subject.

To develop the biological age equations, all of the pieces of movementdata are statistically analyzed by the Principal Component Method. ThePrincipal Component Method utilizes all pieces of movement data tocreate a covariance matrix and to determine the eigenvectors. An 80%threshold is used throughout the Principal Component Method. Theprincipal components are the linear combinations of the movement dataand the interpretation of the principal components relies on the weight(the direction and magnitude) of the movement data. All pieces ofmovement data are mean-centered and scaled by standard deviation. Astepwise discriminate analysis is used to select a subset of principlecomponents that are statistically significant in discriminatingchronological age groups (p-value <0.05). The selected subsets ofprinciple components are used in a regression model (linear regressionand age regression) to develop biological age equations. As differentchronological age groups correlate with different subsets of principalcomponents, biological age equations are developed for each subset ofprincipal components. The chronological age groups are categorized intothe following chronological age categories: <4 years old, 5-6 years old,7-9 years old, and >10 years old. Biological age equations developedbased on the footfall data collected in Example 1 and categorized bychronological age group are as follows:

<4 years old:

-   -   Biological age=3.55-0.27*[ambulation        time*−0.2954+cadence*0.2145+cycle time left front        leg*−0.0551+cycle time left hind leg*−0.0450+cycle time right        front leg*−0.0666+cycle time right hind leg*−0.0570+mean        pressure as normalized by body weight of the left hind        leg*−0.0580+mean pressure as normalized by body weight of left        front leg*−0.1206+mean pressure as normalized by body weight of        the right hind leg*−0.0513+mean pressure as normalized by body        weight of the right front leg*−0.1117+peak pressure as        normalized by body weight of the left hind leg*0.0536+peak        pressure as normalized by body weight of the left front        leg*−0.0556+peak pressure as normalized by body weight of the        right hind leg*0.0604+peak pressure as normalized by body weight        of the right front leg*−0.0412+stance per left front        leg*−0.0645+stance per left hind leg*0.1822+stance per right        front leg*−0.0880+stance per right hind leg*0.1738+stance time        of left front leg*−0.0712+stance time of the left hind        leg*0.1176+stance time of the right front leg*−0.0939+stance        time of the right hind leg*0.1088+step count*−0.2591+stride        length of the left front leg*0.2704+stride length of the left        hind leg*0.2771+stride length of right front leg*0.2568+stride        length of right hind leg*0.2662+stride velocity*0.3112+swing per        left front leg*0.0654+swing per left hind leg*−0.1822+swing per        right front leg*0.0877+swing per right hind leg*−0.1729+swing        time of left front leg*0.0025+swing time of left hind        leg*−0.1924+swing time right front leg*0.0089+swing time right        hind leg*−0.1890+velocity*0.3103].        5-6 years old:    -   Biological age=5.5869+(−0.156)*[ambulation        time*−0.0647+cadence*0.0324+cycle time left front        leg*0.0768+cycle time left hind leg*0.0408+cycle time right        front leg*0.0621+cycle time right hind leg*0.0475+mean pressure        as normalized by body weight of left hind leg*0.3217+mean        pressure as normalized by body weight of left front        leg*−0.2509+mean pressure as normalized by body weight of right        hind leg*0.2734+mean pressure as normalized by body weight of        right front leg*−0.2109+peak pressure as normalized by body        weight of left hind leg*0.4654+peak pressure as normalized by        body weight of left front leg*−0.3876+peak pressure as        normalized by body weight of right hind leg*0.3650+peak pressure        as normalized by body weight of right front leg*−0.3341+stance        per left front leg*−0.0086+stance per left hind        leg*−0.0265+stance per right front leg*0.0565+stance per right        hind leg*−0.1160+stance time left front leg*0.0476+stance time        left hind leg*−0.0014+stance time right front leg*0.0757+stance        time right hind leg*−0.0562+step count*−0.1084+stride length of        left front leg*0.0127+stride length left hind leg*−0.0004+stride        length right front leg*−0.0069+stride length right hind        leg*−0.0192+stride velocity*−0.0551+swing per left front        leg*0.0085+swing per left hind leg*0.0264+swing per right front        leg*−0.0572+swing per right hind leg*0.0958+swing time left        front leg*0.0744+swing time left hind leg*0.0538+swing time        right front leg*0.0076+swing time right hind        leg*0.1193+velocity*−0.0623]+(−0.203)*[ambulation        time*−0.0164+cadence*−0.0959+cycle time left front        leg*0.0709+cycle time left hind leg*−0.0525+cycle time right        front leg*0.0561+cycle time right hind leg*−0.0213+mean pressure        as normalized by body weight of left hind leg*0.2007+mean        pressure as normalized by body weight of left front        leg*0.0786+mean pressure as normalized by body weight of right        hind leg*0.1914+mean pressure as normalized by body weight of        right front leg*0.4709+peak pressure as normalized by body        weight of left hind leg*−0.2582+peak pressure as normalized by        body weight of left front leg*−0.4324+peak pressure as        normalized by body weight of right hind leg*−0.2324+peak        pressure as normalized by body weight of right front        leg*0.0786+stance per left front leg*−0.2055+stance per left        hind leg*0.1437+stance per right front leg*0.2088+stance per        right hind leg*−0.0479+stance time left front leg*−0.0715+stance        time left hind leg*0.0717+stance time right front        leg*0.1433+stance time right hind leg*−0.0496+step        count*−0.0750+stride length left front leg*0.0757+stride length        left hind leg*0.0459+stride length right front leg*0.0482+stride        length right hind leg*0.0213+stride velocity*0.0194+swing per        left front leg*0.2059+swing per left hind leg*−0.1446+swing per        right front leg*−0.2091+swing per right hind leg*0.0528+swing        time left front leg*0.2413+swing time left hind        leg*−0.1502+swing time right front leg*−0.0973+swing time right        hind leg*0.0286+velocity*−0.0298]+(−0.05)*[ambulation        time*0.0592+cadence*−0.1585+cycle time left front        leg*0.2542+cycle time left hind leg*0.2619+cycle time right        front leg*0.2524+cycle time right hind leg*0.2498+mean pressure        as normalized by body weight of left hind leg*−0.1722+mean        pressure as normalized by body weight of left front        leg*−0.1515+mean pressure as normalized by body weight of right        hind leg*−0.1699+mean pressure as normalized by body weight of        right front leg*−0.1365+peak pressure as normalized by body        weight of left hind leg*−0.0890+peak pressure as normalized by        body weight of left front leg*−0.0275+peak pressure as        normalized by body weight of right hind leg*−0.0644+peak        pressure as normalized by body weight of right front        leg*−0.0055+stance per left front leg*0.2111+stance per left        hind leg*0.1307+stance per right front leg*0.1930+stance per        right hind leg*0.1398+stance time left front leg*0.2773+stance        time left hind leg*0.2318+stance time right front        leg*0.2725+stance time right hind leg*0.2374+step        count*−0.0683+stride length left front leg*0.0982+stride length        left hind leg*0.1062+stride length right front leg*0.0927+stride        length right hind leg*0.1116+stride velocity*−0.1406+swing per        left front leg*−0.2107+swing per left hind leg*−0.1310+swing per        right front leg*−0.1932+swing per right hind leg*−0.1339+swing        time left front leg*0.0681+swing time left hind leg*0.0705+swing        time right front leg*0.0822+swing time right hind        leg*0.0391+velocity*−0.1353]+(−0.999)*[ambulation        time*0.0533+cadence*0.1168+cycle time left front        leg*−0.2425+cycle time left hind leg*−0.1704+cycle time right        front leg*0.2521+cycle time right hind leg*0.0939+mean pressure        as normalized by body weight of left hind leg*0.1837+mean        pressure as normalized by body weight of left front        leg*0.0067+mean pressure as normalized by body weight of right        hind leg*−0.0520+mean pressure as normalized by body weight of        right front leg*−0.1562+peak pressure as normalized by body        weight of left hind leg*−0.1042+peak pressure as normalized by        body weight of left front leg*0.0114+peak pressure as normalized        by body weight of right hind leg*0.0092+peak pressure as        normalized by body weight of right front leg*0.0740+stance per        left front leg*−0.0468+stance per left hind leg*0.0173+stance        per right front leg*0.0592+stance per right hind        leg*−0.0754+stance time left front leg*−0.1538+stance time left        hind leg*−0.1122+stance time right front leg*0.1644+stance time        right hind leg*0.0770+step count*0.0974+stride length left front        leg*0.1097+stride length left hind leg*0.5845+stride length        right front leg*−0.3395+stride length right hind        leg*−0.1485+stride velocity*0.0550+swing per left front        leg*0.0560+swing per left hind leg*−0.0153+swing per right front        leg*−0.0595+swing per right hind leg*−0.0243+swing time left        front leg*−0.2231+swing time left hind leg*−0.0896+swing time        right front leg*0.2348+swing time right hind        leg*0.0297+velocity*−0.2002].        7-9 years old:    -   Biological age=8.023+0.2322*[ambulation        time*0.0961+cadence*−0.1347+cycle time left front        leg*0.0668+cycle time left hind leg*0.0675+cycle time right        front leg*0.0919+cycle time right hind leg*0.0479+mean pressure        as normalized by body weight left hind leg*0.2685+mean pressure        as normalized by body weight left front leg*0.3199+mean pressure        as normalized by body weight right hind leg*0.2956+mean pressure        as normalized by body weight right front leg*0.3247+peak        pressure as normalized by body weight left hind leg*0.2993+peak        pressure as normalized by body weight left front leg*0.3658+peak        pressure as normalized by body weight right hind leg*0.3543+peak        pressure as normalized by body weight of right front        leg*0.3498+stance per left front leg*0.0467+stance per left hind        leg*0.0218+stance per right front leg*−0.0164+stance per right        hind leg*0.0775+stance time left front leg*0.0697+stance time        left hind leg*0.0620+stance time right front leg*0.0529+stance        time right hind leg*0.0917+step count*0.0696+stride length left        front leg*0.1291+stride length left hind leg*0.1102+stride        length right front leg*0.1341+stride length right hind        leg*0.0974+stride velocity*0.0354+swing per left front        leg*−0.0468+swing per left hind leg*−0.0215+swing per right        front leg*0.0150+swing per right hind leg*−0.0877+swing time        left front leg*0.0226+swing time left hind leg*0.0159+swing time        right front leg*0.0938+swing time right hind        leg*−0.0430+velocity*0.0340].        >10 years old:    -   Biological age=10.63−3.56*[ambulation        time*0.0318+cadence*−0.1260+cycle time left front        leg*0.0810+cycle time left hind leg*0.0119+cycle time right        front leg*0.0242+cycle time right hind leg*−0.0783+mean pressure        as normalized by body weight left hind leg*−0.0107+mean pressure        as normalized by body weight left front leg*0.1204+mean pressure        as normalized by body weight right hind leg*−0.0213+mean        pressure as normalized by body weight right front        leg*−0.0622+peak pressure as normalized by body weight left hind        leg*0.0105+peak pressure as normalized by body weight left front        leg*−0.0780+peak pressure as normalized by body weight right        hind leg*0.0398+peak pressure as normalized by body weight right        front leg*0.0417+stance per left front leg*0.0839+stance per        left hind leg*0.0792+stance per right front leg*0.0500+stance        per right hind leg*0.4486+stance time left front        leg*−0.0229+stance time left hind leg*−0.0792+stance time right        front leg*−0.0666+stance time right hind leg*−0.2061+step        count*−0.1118+stride length left front leg*−0.4047+stride length        left hind leg*0.2987+stride length right front        leg*−0.1552+stride length right hind leg*−0.1422+stride        velocity*−0.0558+swing per left front leg*−0.0932+swing per left        hind leg*−0.0741+swing per right front leg*−0.0741+swing per        right hind leg*0.1937+swing time left front leg*0.1790+swing        time left hind leg*0.1084+swing time right front        leg*0.1209+swing time right hind leg*0.1224+velocity*0.4765].

Example 3 Determination of Biological Age of Individual LabradorRetriever-Like Companion Animals

To determine the biological age of an individual companion animal suchas a Labrador Retriever or a Labrador Retriever-like companion animal,the movement data from that companion animal is inserted into theappropriate biological age equation developed from the movement data ofa representative class of animals which has been categorized into achronological age group corresponding to that companion animal'schronological age. Thus, the movement data of a Labrador Retriever orLabrador Retriever-like companion animal whose chronological age isunder 4 years of age would be inserted into the biological age equationdeveloped in Example 2 for <4 years old. The movement data of a LabradorRetriever or Labrador Retriever-like companion animal whosechronological age is 8 years of age would be inserted into thebiological age equation developed in Example 2 for 7-9 years old. Thebiological age is the calculated age result following insertion of themovement data into the appropriate biological age equation. While thechronological age of the Labrador Retriever or Labrador Retriever-likecompanion animal is utilized to determine which biological age equationto utilize, the resultant biological age may be outside of thatchronological age range.

The footfall data of two companion animals, such as two LabradorRetriever-like companion animals, is collected by following the methodof Example 1. Both companion animals have a chronological age of threeyears of age and present with no known physical ailments. CompanionAnimal #1 has a weight of about 29 pounds. Companion Animal #2 has aweight of about 49 pounds. Each companion animal is guided through atleast two gait cycles over the pressure detection units for threerepetitions in the collection of footfall data. The footfall data isthen analyzed using any mathematical manipulation necessary to convertthe footfall data to movement data. The movement data from eachrepetition is as follows in Table 2:

TABLE 2 Companion Animal #1 Companion Animal #2 Movement 1^(st) 2^(nd)3^(rd) 1^(st) 2^(nd) 3^(rd) Data Repetition Repetition RepetitionRepetition Repetition Repetition Distance (cm) 218.44 225.43 346.71273.69 307.98 319.41 Ambulation 69.60 68.40 108 82.80 82.20 81.60 Time(sec) Velocity (cm/s) 3.14 3.30 3.21 3.31 3.75 3.91 Step Count 12 12 1616 16 16 Cadence 155.2 157.9 133.3 173.9 175.2 176.5 Step Time (sec)−0.005 0.008 0.011 0.049 0.068 0.068 Left Front Step Time (sec) 0.0330.044 0.026 0.042 0.067 0.076 Right Front Step Time (sec) −0.026 −0.0320.003 0.022 0.017 0.015 Left Hind Step Time (sec) −0.039 −0.03 −0.0390.012 0.004 0.012 Right Hind Step Length 115.325 118.75 118.184 94.594102.9 110.198 (cm) Left Front Step Length 115.921 121.975 115.907 93.691103.867 109.8 (cm) Right Front Step Length 7.861 10.411 5.603 4.932 6.655.153 (cm) Left Hind Step Length 9.981 8.118 7.112 4.467 5.412 4.955(cm) Right Hind Cycle Time 0.567 0.569 0.575 0.461 0.455 0.433 (sec)Left Front Cycle Time 0.579 0.542 0.599 0.46 0.445 0.454 (sec) RightFront Cycle Time 0.567 0.542 0.57 0.442 0.443 0.442 (sec) Left HindCycle Time 0.556 0.559 0.553 0.454 0.447 0.447 (sec) Right Hind StrideLength 107.348 112.777 117.716 92.793 102.722 104.408 (cm) Left FrontStride Length 109.311 114.039 115.612 91.512 101.15 106.882 (cm) RightFront Stride Length 111.939 111.748 117.097 91.32 99.322 107.944 (cm)Left Hind Stride Length 106.457 114.993 112.099 91.231 99.77 106.268(cm) Right Hind Swing 44.1 44.5 46.1 58.4 60.4 59.4 Percentage of CycleLeft Front Swing 49.7 51.8 46.6 53.7 60.4 60.6 Percentage of Cycle RightFront Swing 49.6 51.5 54.4 56.6 58.7 58.6 Percentage of Cycle Left HindSwing 49.1 50.8 50.3 54 56.6 55 Percentage of Cycle Right Hind SwingTime 0.25 0.253 0.265 0.269 0.275 0.257 (sec) Left Front Swing Time0.288 0.281 0.279 0.247 0.269 0.275 (sec) Right Front Swing Time 0.2810.279 0.31 0.25 0.26 0.259 (sec) Left Hind Swing Time 0.273 0.284 0.2780.245 0.253 0.246 (sec) Right Hind Stance 55.9 55.7 53.9 41.6 39.8 40.6Percentage of Cycle Left Front Stance 50.4 48 53.3 46.3 39.3 39.4Percentage of Cycle Right Front Stance 50.3 48.5 45.6 43.4 41.3 41.4Percentage of Cycle Left Hind Stance 50.9 49.2 49.7 46.3 43.4 45Percentage of Cycle Right Hind Stance Time 0.317 0.317 0.31 0.192 0.1810.176 (sec) Left Front Stance Time 0.292 0.26 0.319 0.213 0.175 0.179(sec) Right Front Stance Time 0.285 0.263 0.26 0.192 0.183 0.183 (sec)Left Hind Stance Time 0.283 0.275 0.275 0.21 0.194 0.201 (sec) RightHind Number of 23.333 27.333 24.5 17 17.25 17.25 Sensors Left FrontNumber of 19 21.667 21 16 14.75 16.25 Sensors Right Front Number of20.667 21 20.25 15 16.75 15 Sensors Left Hind Number of 21.667 22.33321.5 14 15 19.75 Sensors Right Hind Peak Pressure 74.667 79.667 76.2544.25 48.5 44.25 Left Front Peak Pressure 55.667 54.333 53.75 44.2540.75 41.75 Right Front Peak Pressure 56.667 60.333 52.75 34.5 40.25 35Left Hind Peak Pressure 61.667 62.667 59 35.5 32.5 42.5 Right Hind MeanPressure 3.182 2.919 3.115 2.611 2.854 2.493 Left Front Mean Pressure2.933 2.501 2.574 2.777 2.783 2.568 Right Front Mean Pressure 2.74 2.8732.615 2.344 2.449 2.416 Left Hind Mean Pressure 2.874 2.809 2.77 2.552.179 2.153 Right Hind Stride Velocity 1.893 1.982 2.047 2.013 2.2582.411 Left Front (cm/s) Stride Velocity 1.888 2.104 1.930 1.989 2.2732.354 Right Front (cm/s) Stride Velocity 1.974 2.062 2.054 2.066 2.2422.442 Left Hind (cm/s) Stride Velocity 1.915 2.057 2.027 2.009 2.2322.377 Right Hind (cm/s)

The biological age of each of the Labrador Retriever-like companionanimals is determined by utilizing the chronological age of each of theLabrador Retriever-like companion animals to determine which biologicalage equation from Example 2 to use in the determination of thebiological age of each of the Labrador Retriever-like companion animals.Companion Animal #1 chronological age is 3 and therefore the averages ofthe movement data of Companion Animal #1 is inserted into the biologicalage equation for age <4 years of age. The biological age of CompanionAnimal #1 is 3.03 years of age. Companion Animal #2 chronological age is3 and therefore the averages of the movement data of Companion Animal #2is inserted into the biological age equation for age <4 years of age.The biological age of Companion Animal #2 is 3.03 years of age.

The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood asbeing strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead,unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean boththe recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding thatvalue. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” is intended to mean“about 40 mm.”

Every document cited herein, including any cross referenced or relatedpatent or application, is hereby incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety unless expressly excluded or otherwise limited. The citation ofany document is not an admission that it is prior art with respect toany invention disclosed or claimed herein or that it alone, or in anycombination with any other reference or references, teaches, suggests ordiscloses any such invention. Further, to the extent that any meaning ordefinition of a term in this document conflicts with any meaning ordefinition of the same term in a document incorporated by reference, themeaning or definition assigned to that term in this document shallgovern.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have beenillustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in theart that various other changes and modifications can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is thereforeintended to cover in the appended claims all such changes andmodifications that are within the scope of this invention.

1. A method of determining a companion animal's biological age, saidmethod comprising the steps of: providing at least one pressuredetection unit having one or more pressure sensors; ambulating thecompanion animal from a first region of the pressure detection unit to asecond region of the pressure detection unit to collect footfall data;analyzing the footfall data and converting the footfall data intomovement data; utilizing the movement data in a biological age equationfrom a representative class of animals, and determining a biological agefor the companion animal; wherein the biological age equation isselected from a group of two or more equations, the equations differingbased at least on the chronological age of the companion animal.
 2. Themethod of claim 1 further comprising the step of comparing thebiological age to the chronological age of said companion animal.
 3. Themethod of claim 2 further comprising the step of providing a managementprogram recommendation for the companion animal.
 4. The method of claim1 further comprising the step of collecting medical history related tothe companion animal.
 5. The method of claim 1 further comprising a stepof providing a personalized report to an owner, breeder, or caregiver ofsaid companion animal.
 6. The method of claim 5 wherein saidpersonalized report comprises information selected from the groupconsisting of biological age of said companion animal, footfall data ofsaid companion animal, movement data of said companion animal andcombinations thereof.
 7. The method of claim 1 wherein said movementdata is selected from the group consisting of number of pressure sensorsactivated in a given paw placement, pressure peak, pressure mean,pressure time, step length, stride length, step time, stride time, swingtime, stance time, distance, ambulation time, velocity, step count,cadence, step time of all four paws, step length measured individuallyon each leg, cycle time measured individually on each leg, stride lengthmeasured individually for each leg, stride velocity measuredindividually for each leg, swing percentage of cycle measuredindividually on each leg, swing time measured individually for each leg,stance percentage of cycle measured individually for each leg, stancetime measured individually for each leg, number of pressure sensorsmeasured individually for each leg, mean pressure, center of gravity,and combinations thereof.
 8. The method of claim 1 wherein the pressuredetection unit is associated with an image collector.
 9. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the pressure detection unit is associated with a loadcell.
 10. The method of claim 1 wherein kinematics sensors have beenplaced on the companion animal.
 11. A method for evaluating a companionanimal's biological age with respect to a biological age of arepresentative class of animals, the method comprising the steps of:providing at least one pressure detection unit comprising one or morepressure sensors; ambulating the companion animal from a first region ofthe pressure detection unit to a second region of the pressure detectionunit to collect footfall data; analyzing the footfall data andconverting the footfall data into movement data and utilizing themovement data in a biological age equation from a representative classof animals and determining a biological age for the companion animal;and comparing the biological age of the companion animal to an averagebiological age of said representative class of animals; wherein thebiological age equation is selected from a group of two or moreequations, the equations differing based at least on the chronologicalage of the companion animal.
 12. The method of claim 11 wherein saidmovement data is selected from the group consisting of number ofpressure sensors activated in a given paw placement, pressure peak,pressure mean, pressure time, step length, stride length, step time,stride time, swing time, stance time, distance, ambulation time,velocity, step count, cadence, step time of all four paws, step lengthmeasured individually on each leg, cycle time measured individually oneach leg, stride length measured individually for each leg, stridevelocity measured individually on each leg, swing percentage of cyclemeasured individually on each leg, swing time measured individually foreach leg, stance percentage of cycle measured individually for each leg,stance time measured individually for each leg, number of pressuresensors measured individually for each leg, mean pressure, center ofgravity, and combinations thereof.
 13. The method of claim 11 furthercomprising a step of providing a personalized report to an owner, abreeder or a caregiver of said companion animal.
 14. The method of claim13 wherein said personalized report comprises information selected fromthe group consisting of biological age of said companion animal,footfall data of said companion animal, movement data of said companionanimal and combinations thereof.
 15. A database comprising a biologicalage of at least one companion animal, said biological age determined bya method comprising the steps of: providing at least one pressuredetection unit comprising one or more pressure sensors; ambulating thecompanion animal from a first region of the pressure detection unit to asecond region of the pressure detection unit to collect footfall data;analyzing the footfall data and converting the footfall data intomovement data and utilizing the movement data in a biological ageequation from a representative class of animals and determining abiological age for the companion animal, wherein the biological ageequation is selected from a group of two or more equations, theequations differing based on the chronological age of the companionanimal; and storing the biological age in the database.
 16. The databaseof claim 15 wherein said database comprises biological age data of arepresentative class of animals.
 17. The database of claim 15 whereinsaid movement data is selected from the group consisting of number ofpressure sensors activated in a given paw placement, pressure peak,pressure mean, pressure time, step length, stride length, step time,stride time, swing time, stance time, distance, ambulation time,velocity, step count, cadence, step time of all four paws, step lengthmeasured individually on each leg, cycle time measured individually oneach leg, stride length measured individually for each leg, stridevelocity measured individually for each leg, swing percentage of cyclemeasured individually on each leg, swing time measured individually foreach leg, stance percentage of cycle measured individually for each leg,stance time measured individually for each leg, number of pressuresensors measured individually for each leg, mean pressure, center ofgravity, and combinations thereof.
 18. The database of claim 15 whereinsaid database further comprises information selected from the groupconsisting of conformation data, medical history, footfall data,movement data, biological age determinations made at different times,biological age equations, management programs and combinations thereof.19. The database of claim 15 wherein said database is associated with apublicly accessible medium.